Taxi Drivers Performing Work through Online Platforms: What Are the Legal Consequences of Labor “Uberization”?

The paper discusses the problems of determining the legal status of drivers of the Uber online platform in the European Union states and the United States of America, where the Uber activities have been perceived by licensed taxi services and trade unions as a threat to fair competition and the social and labor rights of citizens. The authors analyze the arguments of the judicial and administrative bodies of the European Union states and the United States of America, which examined the appeals and claims of drivers, trade unions or transport companies. For comparison, the arguments of Russian courts on disputes about determining the legal nature of the relationship between the similar Uber online platform — Yandex.Taxi and its drivers are analyzed. Based on surveys that questioned the drivers and the analysis of online platform advertisements aimed at attracting drivers to work in the taxi service, the authors conclude that there are signs of actual use of drivers labor without formalizing labor relations and, accordingly, without providing them with social and labor guarantees.

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